Psalms 95

Verse 1. When the house was built, and so forth Alluding to that time, and then ordered to be sung; but principally relating to the building of the Church of Christ, after our redemption from the captivity of satan. Challoner.—Captivity. The greater canticle of David, (1 Chronicles 16) was probably divided, on that occasion, ( Calmet.) into three. This forms the second part, from verse 13; as the psalm 104 to verse 16, does the first. The three last verses of David’s canticle, (verse 34) occur Psalms 105:1. 47. But in reality, there are so many variations, that it seems most probable, ( Bible.) that he revised that work, and left us the three psalms in their present form. This perhaps relates to the establishment of the Church, though it might be also sung at the return from Babylon. Bert.—Modern Jews understand it of their future re-union under the Messias. Kimchi. Calmet.—The rebuilding of the temple is foretold, as a figure of man’s redemption. Worthington.—New canticle. As the blessed do, (Revelation 5:9 and 15:4) and those who receive the Messias. Isaiah 42:10. Bert.—Love sings the new canticle. Saint Augustine—Earth. And not Judea alone, verse 7. Bert.

Verse 2. Lord … his name. As verse 7 and 8. The plural and singular denote the Trinity. Worthington.—Shew forth. Septuagint “evangelize,” bene nuntiate. Saint Augustine—“Tell the glad tidings” of salvation incessantly. This preaching shall continue for ever. Bible.

Verse 5. Devils. Hebrew elilim, “diminutive gods, ( Bible.) nothings, ( Calmet.) vain things.” Mont. 1 Par.—We have idols, as Prot. read here. These were in fact, either devils, or vain imaginations of men. Saint Paul says, we know that an idol is nothing in the world. 1 Corinthians 8:4. They cannot claim self-existence, and if the true God were not to support those creatures, the sun, and so forth which have been the objects of adoration, they would presently cease to be. Bible.—This most plausible species of idolatry is therefore refuted, since the Lord made the heavens. Calmet.—The Creator alone can be considered as God; the devils prompt the people to adore other things. Worthington.—It would appear but a small praise for the Lord to be feared above all gods, ( Bible.) if they were “nothing.” Hence the Septuagint have used the word devils, to signify, that these potent, but maleficent beings, which the pagans adored, were infinitely beneath God, and worse than nothing. Bert.

Verse 6. Before him. At his disposal; whereas the idols can bestow nothing. Calmet.—Sanctuary, or “sanctification.” Worthington. 1 Par. in his place. Bible.

Verse 7. Kindreds; patriæ, or families, as it is expressed. 1 Chronicles 16. Bible.

Verse 8. Sacrifices. Hebrew mincha, “the oblation” of flour, and so forth ( Bible.) which denotes the blessed Eucharist, and the spiritual sacrifices of prayer, and so forth Menochius.—Victims shall cease, but the pure oblation shall continue among the Gentiles. Malachi 1:11. Bert.—Courts. This shews that their conversion is predicted, since they could not otherwise come thither. Calmet.

Verse 9. Moved. Hebrew “in labour,” (Isaiah 26:17. Theod. Calmet.) or “fear ye before him all the earth.” Houbig.—In Par. the sentences are in a different order. Bible.

Verse 10. Reigned. Saint Bernard says, “the kingdom of Jesus is in the wood.” D.—S. Justin (dial.) accuses the Jews of retrenching απο του ξυλου, “from the wood,” which all the Latin Fathers, except S. Jerom, acknowledge in their copies. That ancient author, being born among the Samaritans, could hardly be so ignorant of the Hebrew text, and his antagonist does not attempt to refute the charge; so that it seems probable, that they were in the original, (Bert.) and since erased by the Jews, from the Septuagint who added them, ( Worthington.) by the spirit of prophecy. Tournemine.—But how came Christians to permit this to be done in their Hebrew Greek, and Latin copies? The words in question may have been, therefore, a marginal gloss, which had crept into the text. Faber, Justiniani, and so forth—They do not occur in the parallel passage, (1 Par.) nor in the Vulg. though they be retained in the Rom. breviary. Calmet.—Lindan objects this perfidy of the Jews to the Reformers, not reflecting, that he thus condemns the Vulg. Genebrard is of opinion, that “the Septuagint were inspired to add these words, which some half-learned critics have thought proper to expunge with an impiety which is now but too common.” The Popes have not, however, thought that the cross stood in need of this support. Amama.—The Chaldee and Syriac, as well as all the copies of the Septuagint extant, and the Arab. and Ethiop. versions taken from it, and all the Greek interpreters and Fathers, (except S. Justin) with S. Jerom, both in his versions from the Hebrew and Septuagint omit these words, which are found in the Rom. Gothic, and other psalters. Origen’s Hexapla seem to have most enabled the Greeks to discern the interpolation, which the Latins retained longer, not having such easy access to that work. Whatever may be the decision on this important matter, it is certain that the reign of Christ was propagated from the wood, in a wonderful manner, as he there began to draw all to himself, and the prophet seems evidently to allude to the times when Christ proclaimed, the kingdom of God is at hand, and when the conversion of the Gentiles, and the institution of the blessed Eucharist (verse 8) would fill all the world with rapture. Bible.—The positive testimony of S. Justin, and the Italic version used by the Latin Fathers, (Bert.) Tertullian, Saint Augustine and so forth ( Worthington.) seems of more weight to prove the authenticity of the words, than the simple omission in the copies of Origen, and S. Jerom, and so forth to evince the contrary. Bert.—Corrected. Evil morals and idolatry, ( Menochius.) rather than the physical order of the globe. Psalms 92:1. Bert.—Hebrew “he hath balanced,” (Houbig.) or established. Bible.—The Christian faith shall not be abolished, ( Menochius.) or corrected. Bible.—“Faith is not to be reformed.” Tert.—Justice. Ancient psalter add, “and the Gentiles in his wrath,” verse 13. Psalms 98:8.

Verse 11. Fulness. Its raging billows, ( Calmet.) fishes, ( Menochius.) those who live upon the water. Bible.—Let all testify their joy. Every thing is animated by the psalmist. Calmet.